TAM60313 GRUMMAN F-14A TOMCAT 'BLACK KNIGHTS

About this item

Landing at a hobby shop near you…Tamiya's new 1/32 Scale Grumman F-14A Tomcat Black Knights is a must have! This is a massive kit, both in size and popularity; originally released in 1994 to the delight of military modelers, it's been completely updated. The Grumman F-14A Tomcat was officially the king of the skies when it was first brought into service back in 1972. Its primary task was to intercept Soviet Migs, but with the end of the Cold War, the focus shifted to strategic air-to-ground strikes. The adaptable Tomcat was refitted accordingly: a rack was installed to carry precision-guided bombs. To make the most of the new munitions, the F-14A was equipped with the AN/AAQ-14 targeting system, also known as LANTIRN. The Tomcat has seen quite a bit of action around the world, most recently in Iraq. It has also played a very helpful part in the Kosovo Conflict and the War in Afghanistan. Tamiya's updated version includes all new parts for both the sensors and the radar systems. You'll also receive two of the latest GBU-24 laser guided precision bombs, and parts for the new AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (and their new launcher, too)! The models landing gear has been reinforced with new metal parts, should you wish to display your finished work with the gear down, or you can assemble it with the gear retracted if you like. Our choice is to display it with the gear down, all the better to show off Tamiya's new rubber tires! The kit also features three figures: Pilot and RIO (Radar Interceptor Officer) as well as a plane director. The best part has to be the wings that swing! Tamiya has included gears in the kit that link both of the wings together, enabling them to swing from 68 degrees, the take off and landing position, back to 20 degrees for super sonic! The newly updated model is accurate to the very last detail, a Tamiya tradition! Thanks to their obsession for fit and finish, the kit is a pleasure to build. Everything fits together seamlessly, making the assembly process clear and straightforward. Speaking about a straightforward process, Tamiya has the absolute best instruction manuals in the world; each step is completely laid out before you. And inside the box, all of the pieces are clearly identified and well organized. The items that will need to be painted are clearly detailed, along with recommendations for the proper paint colours depending on which version of the kit you intend to build. Yes…you can choose between four different marking patterns for the F-14A Black Knights. The end result is a very satisfying project, and whichever version you decide to build, we're sure your model will land in a display case! Check with your Authorized Tamiya Retailer for kit #60313. Tamiya will also be making two special paints to reflect the very delicate ghosting finish, so we would recommend that you grab these also: AS25 - Dark Ghost Grey, and AS26 Light Ghost Grey. Remember that even though Summer is almost here, it still gets wet- keep this very special kit for just that - a rainy day!